Seeking Advice on Thunderbolt 1 to USB-C Adapter for MacBook Air 4,2 (2011)

[Heinzja]

I’m looking for some advice regarding an adapter for my MacBook Air 4,2 (2011). Specifically, I need a Thunderbolt 1 to USB-C adapter.

I could certainly search for options on Amazon, but I’ve found that seller descriptions can often be vague, and many products may not work as expected. This can lead to a frustrating cycle of complaints, returns, and reorders.

If anyone has experience with this type of adapter or knows of a reliable product that works well with my MacBook Air, I would greatly appreciate your recommendations. Your insights would be incredibly helpful and save me a lot of time and hassle.

Thank you in advance for your assistance!

 

[joevt]

What kind of USB-C device do you want to connect?

You need three things:

1. Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 adapter. This is the only such adapter that I know of that works in both directions. That means it allows a Thunderbolt 3 Mac to use a Thunderbolt 1/2 device and it allows a Thunderbolt 1/2 Mac to use a Thunderbolt 3 device.
   https://www.apple.com/ca/shop/product/MYH93AM/A/thunderbolt-3-usb-c-to-thunderbolt-2-adapter
2. A Thunderbolt 1 or Thunderbolt 2 cable (they are the same thing); not a Mini DisplayPort cable.
3. A powered Thunderbolt 3 dock or device or display with two Thunderbolt 3 ports. One port connects to your Mac using the Thunderbolt adapter and Thunderbolt cable. The other port can be used to connect more Thunderbolt devices, or a USB-C hub/dock/display/device or a DisplayPort display (with USB-C to DisplayPort adapter or cable), or a HDMI display (with a USB-C to HDMI adapter or cable). I think the MacBook Air 2011 only supports one display from Thunderbolt?
   Avoid Thunderbolt 4/5 devices. https://www.caldigit.com/does-the-e...-thunderbolt-1-or-thunderbolt-2-mac-computer/

 

[Heinzja]

Thank you for our reply...
I got a new C USB Hub with everything on it... (C USB3 RJ45 etc) -very nice small and metal, compatible with newer MacBooks .... I wouldn’t mind if some ports will not work, but would be nice not to loose one of the existing USB2 Ports when connecting something else...

 

[joevt]

If you get a Thunderbolt 3 dock to make that USB-C dock work then it would probably make the USB-C dock redundant.

If the USB-C dock is self powered, then you could connect it to a USB 2.0 port of the MacBook Air using a USB-C to USB-A cable or adapter. That would limit communication to half-duplex 480 Mb/s instead of full-duplex 1 Gb/s (Gigabit Ethernet) or 10 Gb/s (Thunderbolt or USB 3.1 gen 2) and you can't do normal video using USB 2.0.

A USB device cannot be connected directly to the Apple Thunderbolt 3 to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter because the adapter only understands Thunderbolt. It's the Thunderbolt dock/device/display that will provide USB support.

 

[Heinzja]

Thank you very much for your kind help... I will go for plan B and get a USB-A to USB-c Adapter ... Thunderbolt Hubs are expensive and maybe in the future a possibility... USB2 is fine and a free extra port doesn’t do any harm...
Thanks again!

 

[joevt]

Let us know what adapter you choose and how it works. Also, let us know which USB-C Hub you are using with the USB-A to USB-C adapter. Does the USB-C Hub have a captive USB-C cable or can it be disconnected?

USB-A (male) to USB-C (female) adapters are against the USB-IF specification but do work. You might need to switch the USB-C cable upside down if it doesn't work the first time.